Measuring the Awareness of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) among Women in Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevailing endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age, worldwide. Its prevalence is 52% in Pakistani women and the rate of infertility is gradually increasing. It can be treated through early diagnosis, management of symptoms, and a healthy lifestyle. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the level of awareness and knowledge regarding PCOS in the women of Punjab, Pakistan. For this purpose, a total of 350 women between the ages of 16 and 50 years were included in the current study. data was obtained through a questionnaire and analyzed through SPSS (version 25). The results determined that 56% of women were found to have the knowledge of PCOS, while 44% had never heard about it. Furthermore, about 67% of 196 PCOS-aware women were unaware of its signs and symptoms. Moreover, in 14% of the cases, a friend was the source of knowledge regarding PCOS. Whereas, approximately 10% of these women had heard about the syndrome through education, 9% through their family, 7% through various media such as newspapers, television, and social media, and 17% through other sources including general physicians and gynecologists. It was concluded that only 33% of the participants who claimed to have heard of PCOS were aware of its symptoms, whereas 67% were unaware of them. A total of 152 women, out of 350, had never heard about PCOS.